48 fake domicile certificates cancelled in Uttarakhand'after CM Dhami orders statewide review

DEHRADUN: A statewide review of potentially fraudulent domicile certificates in Uttarakhand has led to the cancellation of 48 bogus documents in Haldwani, following a directive from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami to examine all such certificates issued over the past three years. The action stems from an ongoing investigation into forged documents after an initial gang involved in creating fake paperwork was exposed. The first phase of the inquiry, conducted by the Nainital District Magistrates office, focused on certificates issued in the Haldwani tehsil over the past five years. Early scrutiny of nearly 200 documents revealed major inconsistencies. During the first phase of verification in the Banbhulpura area, our team found suspicious elements in the supporting documents of 48 domicile certificates, Rahul Shah, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Haldwani, told TNIE. We have cancelled all 48 immediately. SDM Shah said the verification process is rigorous, involving cross-checking everything from the phone numbers provided to the authenticity of the supporting paperwork. The ongoing drive accelerated after a high-profile complaint surfaced during a recent public grievance hearing (Janta Darbar) conducted by Kumaon Commissioner Deepak Rawat. A complainant alleged that an individual who had recently moved from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, managed to secure a residency certificate in Haldwani using forged documents just two months earlier. Commissioner Rawat then launched a discreet inquiry, which traced the application back to a local deed writer operating within the Haldwani tehsil. This investigation exposed the clear involvement of middlemen actively facilitating fraud, a source close to the Commissioners office said. The probe led Commissioner Rawat to raid a Common Service Centre (CSC) in the Banbhulpura area. Officials recovered several incriminating documents, leading to the registration of a case against the alleged document writer, Faizan, and the beneficiary, Laik. Police investigations later revealed the alleged complicity of an employee from the Uttarakhand Power Corporation Limited (UPCL). Banbhulpura police subsequently arrested all three accused individuals, who have since been sent to jail. The administration has stated that the investigation is ongoing. We are scrutinising documents daily, SDM Rahul Shah added. Our aim is to conclude the verification of all targeted certificates within the next 10 to 15 days, the figure of which is expected to be around 1,200. Authorities are also monitoring several other deed writers suspected of involvement in similar rackets. Several have already been issued official notices by the district administration as efforts continue to clean up residency records across the district.